Hello health and wellness enthusiasts. My name is Kaitlin, your weekly guide to understanding the latest health news that could impact your life. It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, so remember to…
Here are some other tips to improve your well-being this week:
Is it better to spend money on experiences or things?
Would you rather spend on concert tickets or expensive shoes? New to look for from the University of Texas at Austin, says that spending money on experiences improves social connections and happiness more than buying material goods, which can actually lead to negative feelings like envy in others.
Should you track steps or minutes spent exercising?
Do you track your workouts with a pedometer… or a stopwatch? It may not matter much, according to one to study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which found both to be equally effective in reducing the risk of early death and cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that, in general, higher activity levels reduced health risks, regardless of how they were monitored.
Ultra-processed foods: friends or enemies?
A new study, which looked at more than 9,000 adults over an average of 11 years, found that those who consumed more ultra-processed foods had a higher risk of memory problems and stroke. Those who regularly ate unprocessed or minimally processed foods had a 12% lower risk of cognitive impairment and a 9% lower risk of stroke.
Still, it’s important to note that not all ultra-processed foods are created equal: nutritionist Maxine Yeung wrote for Yahoo Life that some ultra-processed foods can play an important role in a healthy diet. In some cases, food processing can improve its nutritional profile by adding vitamins and minerals to the mix, as with fortified breakfast cereals.
You should consider Quitting your fish oil supplement?
A recent study published in BMJ found that fish oil supplements may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke in people without a history of heart problems, despite its known benefits for those with existing heart disease. If you take a fish oil supplement daily, this might be a scary headline — but experts aren’t sure if you should ditch your supplements just yet. Because the research failed to take into account variables such as the individual’s health before the study, the results may be skewed.
Listen to a podcast about mental health
Are you going on a long trip? Download some mental health podcasts – they can be great for your wellbeing. Researchers at University College Cork, Ireland studied regular listeners of mental health podcasts and found that listening to these programs positively influenced their mental health, reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking behaviors. Regular listeners have also become better able to understand their own mental health in a more self-reflective way.
Hikers: Be extra careful when crossing roads
Electric or hybrid cars may be more likely to hit a pedestrian, a new study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health found. After analyzing casualty data in Britain from 2013 to 2017, researchers found that electric and hybrid vehicles pose a greater risk to pedestrians – and they believe it may have to do with the fact that these vehicles are quieter than than their fossil fuel counterparts. Accidents involving electric or hybrid vehicles were more likely to occur in urban areas than in rural areas, potentially because background noise in cities made these cars more difficult to detect.
Use matcha mouthwash
Matcha, a green tea powder, has been shown to inhibit the growth of the harmful oral bacteria P. gingivalis, which is associated with periodontitis, a serious gum infection. Now Japanese researchers are testing it as a mouthwash: The new study found that those who switched from regular mouthwash to matcha mouthwash had significantly lower levels of the bacteria.
Remember to be FAST
May is Stroke Awareness Month. Do you know the signs? Remember this acronym and you won’t forget it: FAST Stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time. If someone’s face falls to one side, they can’t lift both arms, or their speech is slurred, it’s time to call emergency services. Acting quickly is crucial when you have a stroke and can prevent long-term damage.
